Station accused of fake inspections

November 16, 2009 8:34:54 AM PST

HOUSTON --

Three people are facing charges after a Houston-area inspection station allegedly issued stickers without actually inspecting the vehicles. The inspection station, 5 Minutes Inspections at 735 West 26th Street in Houston, is certified to inspect passenger and commercial vehicles. Investigators with the Department of Public Safety believe that the station was issuing hundreds of inspection stickers a month or more on commercial vehicles that had not actually been inspected. The charges followed a three week investigation by DPS troopers.

Cesar Hernandez, 27, Ernesto Bastard, 19, and Miguel Castillo, 49, have been charged with tampering with a government document, a second degree felony. Punishment on the charges could range from two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The criminal investigation in this case continues. Additional investigative leads are being pursued.

This station inspected the charter bus involved in a crash near Sherman, Texas, in August 2008 that killed 17 people on a church trip to Missouri. Further investigation into this aspect of the case could be forthcoming.